Now fans can enjoy the Football World Cup by visiting the US, America announces ‘FIFA Pass’

Washington (The Uttam Hindu): The United States is preparing to welcome football fans from across the world, calling the upcoming FIFA World Cup the biggest and most grand edition ever. To ensure smooth travel for millions of international supporters, the Trump administration has announced a new fast-track visa initiative for foreign fans.

From January 20, the US State Department will roll out a new system called the FIFA Priority Appointment Scheduling System, commonly referred to as the FIFA Pass. This initiative is designed specifically for spectators who hold confirmed World Cup match tickets and require a visa to enter the United States.

A senior State Department official said the aim of the new system is to ensure that genuine football fans receive visa appointments on time so they can reach the US before the tournament begins. Under the FIFA Pass, ticket-holding fans will be given priority for visa interviews, and their applications will be processed faster than usual.

However, officials clarified that the new facility does not relax US immigration rules. Applicants must still meet all visa requirements, comply with American laws, and prove that they will return to their home country after the tournament. Security and border protection, the official said, remain the top priority.

To manage the increased demand, the State Department is deploying more than 500 additional staff members to speed up visa processing. Despite the faster system, all applicants will continue to undergo the same strict security checks as in the standard visa process.

The waiting time for visa appointments has also been reduced in many countries. According to officials, in more than 80 percent of countries worldwide, applicants can now schedule a US visitor visa interview in under 60 days, a significant improvement compared to earlier backlogs.

The FIFA World Cup will begin on June 11 and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. For the first time, 48 teams will participate. A total of 78 matches will be played across 11 US cities, with the final scheduled at the New York–New Jersey stadium.